Press Freedom Groups Demand Congress Rescind Subpoena of Investigative Journalist

Defending Rights & Dissent led more than 20 other leading press freedom and First Amendment groups, including the ACLU, PEN America, the National Writers Union, Reporters without Borders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, in calling on Congress to rescind a subpoena for investigative journalist and author Seth Harp. 

Last week, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Harp, the author of The Fort Bragg Cartel, over a social media post in which he shared publicly available information, including a headshot, of a high-ranking U.S. military colonel who Harp reported was in the chain-of-command for the U.S. raid to depose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. 

“There is zero question that Harp’s actions were fully and squarely within the protections of the First Amendment, as well as outside the scope of any federal criminal statutes,” the groups write.

Chip Gibbons, Policy Director at Defending Rights & Dissent, said,

“Rep. Luna’s subpoena of investigative reporter Seth Harp is clearly designed to chill and intimidate a journalist doing some of the most significant investigative reporting on U.S. Special Forces. Her own statement makes clear that far from having a valid legislative purpose, she seeks to hold a journalist ‘accountable’ for what is essentially reporting she dislikes. Her rationale is based on easily debunkable disinformation. Harp did not share classified information about the U.S. regime change operation in Venezuela. And even if he had, his actions would firmly be protected by the First Amendment. This is a dangerous assault on press freedom, as well as the U.S. people’s right to know. It is shameful it passed the committee.”

Download the letter and full list of signatories here, or read it below.

Defending Rights & Dissent is a national civil liberties organization that defends the American people’s right to know and freedom to act through grassroots mobilization, public education, policy expertise, and advocacy journalism.